Flashlight structure



Ill

11v VEN TOR.

A ril 22, 1952 c. E. NYBERG FLASHLIGHT STRUCTURE Filed May 16, 1950.member I 6.

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,593,784 :FLASHLIGHTSTRUCTURE Curt EjNyberg, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 16, 1950, Serial No. 162,185

This invention relates to a flashlight struc vture, and is particularlyuseful in the alternate production of steady light and intermittentflashing light.

Aniobject of the invention is-to provide a flashlight structure ofcompact arrangement in which alight bulb may be caused to give a steadylight :or an intermittent flashing light by selective movement of thelight structure. A further object is to provide in such a structuremeans for 4 Claims. (c in-32's Cit ment of the movable element theflashlight may be converted from an intermittently flashing light to "asteady light, or vice versa. Yet another object is to provide in such aflashlight structure means for providing a plain or colored lightwhereby the light is useful as an ordinary flashlight or as a warninglight etc. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as thespecification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in a single embodiment, by the accompanyingdrawing, in -which' Fig. l is a perspective view of a flashlightstructure embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view;Fig. 3, a broken detail sectional view, the section being taken asillustrated at line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a broken detail sectionalView, the section being taken as indicated at line 4-4 of Fig.2; and thecontacts being shownin ofi or non-contacting position; Fig. 5, a viewsimilar to Fig. .4 but showing one of the contacts in the position forproducing an intermittent flashin'g'lig'ht; Fig. 6, a view similar toFig. 4 but showing a different contact in engagement with the contactofa battery for giving a steadylightyand Fig. 7, a wiring diagram showingthe electrical circuits of the device.

In the illustration given, I designates a casing which may be of anysuitable shape, and which may be formed of metal, plastic, or anysuitable.

In the lower part of the casing are A material. mounted the dry cellbatteries II and [2.

spring member I3 is secured to the bottom of the casing and provides alead between the contact V, I4 at the lower end of battery II and thebot-v tom wall I5 of the battery I2. Thus the batteries are .iconnectedin series and the current .is z-adap'ted for flow through battery ll,contact l4,

spring I3, battery l2, and to the upper contact The casing III isapertured at its upper forward end to receive the neck I! of aflashlight casing 18. In the neck I! is mounted a metallic socket I8"Any suitable current conducting material 2 may be used. A light bulb I9is provided with a threaded shell 20, which threadedly engages thesocket [8 and the shell is provided at its rear with a contact 2|. Atthe rear of the socket I I3 is an insulated ring 22 of hard rubber,resin .or the like. 7

'To the rear side of the casing I0 is secured a sleeve 23 of insulatingmaterial, as shown more clearlyin Fig. 2.

Rotatably mounted in the sleeve 23 is a cartridge or switch element 24.The cartridge consists of a barrel or cylinder preferably formed ofinsulating material, as, for example, glass, and within the cartridge ismounted a bi-metallic switch element 25 of a well-known constructionadapted to open and break the circuit. Such a flasher switch element isof well-known construction, and an example thereof is set out in UnitedStates Patent No. 2,074,345.

Mounted upon the rearend of the cartridge or tube 24 is a conductor orcontact member 26 having a forwardly-extending tail extension 21. At theforward end of the cartridge 24 is a contact member 28 having a longtail extension 29. Each of the extensions 2"! and 29 may be flaredslightl-y outwardly, as indicated more clearly in Figsfli, 5 and 6.

The foremost contact :28 is preferably secured tightly to the insulationring 22 so that as the heck I1 is rotated, the contact member 28 is alsorotated and the cartridge "24 and contact 26 also rotated. The contact28 is adapted to pass the current therefrom through the'spring 30 to thecontact 2| of the'light bulb shell 20.

To support the neck I! for rotation, I'provide a spring bracket 3|,which may be secured by a "rivet to the u er wall of the casing III, thebracket '31 having rounded arm extensions 32 for engaging the neck orbarreI H. The bracket or strap 3| also abuts a ring 33 formed byindenting the shell I I outwardly and thus prevents outward movement ofthe shell H. The ring 33 also engages the upper wall of the battery I Ito provide for the flow of current'fro'm' the socket It to the battery.

Mounted in the light casing I8 is a, clear lens 34. Hing'edly mountedupon the outer ring 35 of the casing I8. are the divided lens supports36 carrying the lens members 31 and 3a. The lenses 37 and 38 may becolored and may, for example,

Fig. 4 so that'no current flows through the parts and there .-is. .n'oillumination. It the casin should be swung slightly to the right, thetail extension 21 of the contact 26 is brought into an engagement withthe contact 16 of battery [2, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The circuit iscompleted and the current flows through batteries l l and I2 and thencethrough contact 16, tail extension 21, contact 25, and thence throughthe bi-metallic structure 25, contact 28, spring 30, and contact 2 I,and thence through the shell 20 and the filament of the light bulb, backthrough the socket l8 to the wall of the battery I I.

If the casing i8 is rotated in the opposite direction, the tailextension 29 is brought into engagement with the contact I6 of batteryl2 and this causes a flow of current from the contact l6 of battery 12directly to the contact 28, thus by-passing the bi-metallic element 25.A steady light is thus produced. When a steady light is produced,- thehinged members 36 may be swung outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. When thelight is operated as an intermittent flashing light, the lenses 3'! and38 may be swung to closed position so that a red flashing light servesas a warning.

The driver of an automobile may thus use the flashlight as an ordinaryflashlight and for the purposes of illumination or, if an accident hasoccurred and his car stands at the edge of the pavement, he may placethe flasher light in operation so that it is visible through the rearwindow of the car, with the red lenses in position, as shown in Fig. 2,so that approaching cars will be warned. The cartridge device 24, withits contacts, may be supported for longitudinal movement. I prefer,however, to employ a structure as shown in which a slight rotarymovement effects a selection of the spaced contacts to bring abouteither a flashing or steady light. By providing the tail extension forthe contact 28 and also for the contact 26, the two contacts arearranged above the battery contact l6 so that a slight tilting movementenables the selection to be made as to the' type of light desired.

While in the foregoingspecification I have set forth a single structurein considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating my invention, itwill be understood that such details of structure may be varied widelyby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

1. In a flashlight structure, a casing provided with an opening, a,battery power supply therein having plus and minus contacts, a lightbulb, a light bulb support member insaid casing and in engagement withone of said battery contacts, a flashlight casing provided with anopening and enclosing said light bulb and a, portion of said supportmember, said casing having a cylindrical portion received within acircular opening of said casing for rotation therein, said supportmember having a steady light contact and a flasher contact, at least oneof said support member contacts having a tail extension, and abimetallic flasher switch between said support contacts to causeintermittent flashing of the light when the current flows through saidflasher contact, said member being rotatable to bring said tailextension and the other support contact into engagement selectively withthe other of said battery contacts to complete the circuit therewith,whereby when the circuit is completed with one of said support contactsthe light bulb gives a steady light and when the circuit i completedwith the flasher contact of said support the light bulb is -caused givean intermittent flashing of light.

2. In a flashlight structure, a casing provided with an opening, a pairof batteries connected in series Within said casing, a light bulbsupport member having a cylindrical portion received within a circularportion of said casing for rotation therein, spaced contacts carried bysaid support member, at least one of said contacts having a tailextension, an electric light bulb in said support, a bimetallic flasherswitch between said contacts to cause intermittent flashing of the lightwhen the current flows through one contact, said support when rotated inone direction bringing one of said contacts into engagement with thebattery contact and when rotated in the opposite direction bringing theother of said contacts into engagement with the battery contact to thuscause a flow of current selectively through either of said contacts, anda flashlight casing provided with an opening and enclosing said lightbulb and a portion of said support and being equipped with clear andwith movably-mounted colored lenses.

3. In a flashlight structure, a casing provided with an opening, abattery power supply therein having plus and minus contacts, aflashlight bulb rotatably mounted in said casing, a support for saidlight bulb within said flashlight casing and extending rearwardlythereof, said support providing at its front a contact between the lightbulb casing and one of said battery contacts, said support beingprovided also with spaced inner and outer contacts, a bimetallic flasherswitch interposed between said inner and outer contacts, spacedconductors leading from said inner and outer contacts and adapted to bebrought selectively into engagement with the other of said batterycontacts upon movement of said flashlight casing, whereby when thecircuit is completed with the flasher contact of said support the lightbulb is caused to give an intermittent flashing of light.

4. In a flashlight structure, a casing provided with an opening, abattery power supply therein having plus and minus contacts, aflashlight casing provided with an opening and rotatably mounted in saidfirst-mentioned casing, a light bulb supported therein, means connectingthe casing of said light bulb to one of said battery contacts, a pair ofspaced contacts connected to said light bulb, movable switch means forselectively connecting each of said pair of contacts with the othercontact of said battery power supply, and a bimetallic flasher switchextending between one of said pair of contacts and said light bulb,whereby when the circuit is completed with one of said pair of contactsthe light bulb givesa steady light and when the circuit is completedwith the other of said contacts the current is passed through saidflasher switch to give an intermittent flashing of light.

CURT E. NYBERG.

' REFERENCES CITED .The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,090,293 Haines Aug. 17,19372,104,911 Snyder Jan. 11, 1938 2,165,562 Mack et a1 July 15, 19392,171,349 Wiley Aug. 27, 1939 2,491,914 Anderson 1 Dec. 20, 1949

